The Phillies have selected Alec Bohm, a 21-year-old third baseman from Wichita State University, in the first round (No. 3 overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, Johnny Almaraz, Director of Amateur Scouting, announced tonight.
Bohm, an Omaha, Neb., native, batted .339 (76-224) with 14 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs, 55 RBI, 39 walks, 57 runs, nine stolen bases, a .436 on-base percentage and a .625 slugging percentage during his junior season. He reached base safely in 53 of his 57 games, collecting hits in 48 of them. At the time Wichita State's season ended, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Bohm led the American Athletic Conference in home runs, pacing the Shockers for the second straight year. He also led the AAC in runs, tied for first in total bases (140) and finished in the top five in hits, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
The right-handed-hitting Bohm was named a Baseball America Second-Team All-American, as well as a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the nation's college player of the year, and the Golden Spikes Award. He leaves Wichita State with a career .317 average, 40 doubles, 33 home runs and 125 RBI in 166 games over three seasons.
"Alec Bohm is a tremendous offensive player," Almaraz said. "He is a middle of the order bat, a big power-hitting third baseman who could be a .300 hitter and drive in 100-plus runs. We are thrilled to have selected him."
Bohm's selection marks just the second time the Phillies have selected a third baseman with their first-round pick, and first time since 1998, when they took Phillies Wall of Famer Pat Burrell first overall from the University of Miami. He is the third Wichita State player ever selected by the Phillies, and second in the first round, joining pitcher Tyler Green, the club's first-round selection in 1991.
The Phillies' next selection in the draft will be in the fourth round with the 107^th overall pick tomorrow.